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CPT 38115: Open Splenic Repair with Possible Partial Splenectomy
CPT code 38115 covers open surgical repair of the spleen with suture repair and possible excision of irreparable splenic tissue, a procedure most commonly performed for traumatic splenic injuries. This code is significant nationally because splenic trauma is a common indication for emergency abdominal surgery, and accurate coding affects hospital billing, resource allocation, and quality measurement for trauma care.
Key payers considered in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for open splenic repair, typical sites of service, commonly reported modifiers, and how this code interacts with related operative and inpatient service lines. The publication outlines national billing benchmarks where available, notes common documentation elements required for medical necessity in trauma settings, and highlights policy or coding clarifications relevant to operative splenic management.
This summary provides clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts with concise information on the clinical intent of CPT code 38115, payer coverage considerations, and the types of benchmarks and policy updates that inform billing and compliance for splenic repair procedures.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 38115 describes a surgical procedure in which a provider makes an incision into the abdominal cavity to repair a damaged spleen using sutures. If a portion of the spleen is irreparably injured, the surgeon may excise that portion during the same operation. This procedure is most commonly performed for trauma-related splenic injury.
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Service type: Surgical repair of the spleen (open abdominal splenic repair with possible partial splenectomy)
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Typical site of service: Inpatient or operating room in a hospital setting